The few such actors who get work are largely confined to playing tyrants and terrorists

Receive the latest entertainment-news updates in your inbox

This combination photo shows, from left, Egyptian-American actor Rami Malek, who stars on “Mr. Robot,” Turkish-American actor Ennis Esmer, who stars in "Red Oaks," and Iranian-American actress Necar Zadegan, who stars in “Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce." A new study says actors of Middle Eastern and North African descent are either ignored on TV or stereotyped. Malek, Esmer and Zadegan were described as “exemplary” in the report. (AP Photo)

Actors and characters of Middle Eastern and North African descent are either ignored by TV or stereotyped, according to a new study.

The few such actors who get work are largely confined to playing tyrants and terrorists, said the university-funded study released Monday.

One percent of regularly seen TV series actors have roots in countries including Egypt, Turkey and Israel. But estimates show about 3 percent of the U.S. population, 10 million people, are from the region, said the study's lead author, Biola University associate professor Nancy Wang Yuen.

Researchers who examined 242 scripted prime-time series on broadcast, cable and streaming during the 2015-16 season found that between 90 percent and 97 percent had no characters of Middle Eastern or North African ethnicity.

‘Tonight’: Jimmy Fallon and Lin-Manuel Miranda Sing Holiday Parodies

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jimmy Fallon sing a medley of popular songs from 2018, like Migos' "Stir Fry," Ariana Grande's "No Tears Left to Cry" and Cardi B's "I Like It," and change the lyrics to make them about the holiday season.

(Published Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018)

When those characters do appear, 78 percent are tyrants or trained terrorists, agents or soldiers, the study said. Most speak with obvious foreign accents.

Ninety percent of shows with such characters feature just one — with the now-ended "Tyrant," a drama set in the Middle East, among the exceptions.

The study warned that such depictions can contribute to the rise of anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant sentiment in American society.

Three instances were described as "exemplary" in the report: Iranian-American actress Necar Zadegan's portrayal of an attorney on Bravo's "Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce," the cyber-security engineer played by Egyptian-American (and Emmy-winning) actor Rami Malek on "Mr. Robot" and a tennis pro on Amazon's "Red Oaks" played by Turkish-American actor Ennis Esmer.

"His ethnicity doesn't define the role, and he gets to be a full person aside from that, and in fact because of that," Esmer said of his character in a statement.

The entertainment industry as a whole must seek change, the study said. It recommended steps including the hiring and mentoring of Middle East and North African actors, directors, executives and others.

'Late Night’: Ronan's 'Mary Queen of Scots' Costume Altered Her

Saoirse Ronan talks about the physically altering effects of the costumes for "Mary Queen of Scots," acting with Margot Robbie and orchestrating dramatic plots for her childhood dolls.

(Published Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018)

The study cited the work of actress Azita Ghanizada, who founded an advocacy coalition that successfully lobbied Hollywood guilds to include Middle East and North African performers in casting data reports.

The study received funding from schools including Biola University in La Mirada, California; California State University Fullerton; and San Jose State University, along with CBS Entertainment Diversity.